Isle of Wight · England
Hog Roast for a Wake in Downend, Isle of Wight
We bring a hog roast for the wake across Downend and the Isle of Wight, cooking slowly at your venue and serving it hot.
- Celebrations of life
- Memorial events
- One-year memorials
Planning an event in Downend?
Who books funeral wake catering in Downend?
We serve calmly and clear away discreetly.
We’re regularly asked to cater a wide mix of occasions near Downend, such as:
- Wakes at home
- Gatherings at clubs and pubs
- Memorial events
- Family meals after a funeral
Families holding a service at St. George's Church frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the roast can be ready.
What to look for in a quote
- VAT, if it applies
- Which meats, sides and extras are included
- Where the roaster goes and what it needs
- Who carves and who serves
Funeral wake catering in Downend, carved to order
Funerals are normally planned within a week or two. Contact us as soon as the date is set, and we’ll tell you right away whether we can help. For celebrations of life and one-year memorials, we’ll put together a menu of apple sauce, roast pork in rolls or on plates and salads for your guests.
In rural Downend, home or the hall is usual. The hog is roasted on site at your wake, slowly, over several hours.
- Area
- Downend (PO30)
- Area hub
- Isle of Wight
- From the roaster
- Hog roast rolls, stuffing, apple sauce, crackling
- Alongside
- Lamb, chicken, halloumi skewers (V), vegan option (Ve)
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 26 October 2026
Planning the cooking spot
Most gardens, car parks, yards and fields work with a little planning. Here’s what helps:
- Somewhere indoors for people to eat
- Space away from the building and any trees
- Parking close by for our vehicle
For somewhere as remote as Downend, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
From the roaster
- Coleslaw
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Vegan option (Ve)
- New potatoes
- Hog roast rolls
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Salads
- Rotisserie chicken
About the food
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Coleslaw is the natural partner for a pork roll, and salads and new potatoes work well on a plate.
Stuffing and apple sauce
No hog roast roll is complete without sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce, balancing the rich, salty pork.
What else we do in Downend
Allergies and dietary needs
We give full allergen information for every dish. To make the most of it:
- Halal isn’t offered, so arrange it separately
- Request gluten-free rolls
- Ask close family about dietary needs
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
Our staff are discreet and respectful throughout.
Let us know if there is something the person especially liked.
For planners, venues and organisers
For venues and planners, we can fit around your other suppliers, sharing timings and a site plan.
For events on land you don’t own, such as a park or field, the landowner needs to agree to cooking and vehicles. Sort that first.
Common questions in Downend
What’s the nearest station to Downend?
Smallbrook Junction station, about 4.3 miles east of the centre.
What about windy coastal sites?
Yes, of course. Wind is something we plan for: a sheltered spot and secure cover.
Is it a sit-down meal?
Plates come as standard, and china is available on request.
Does the roaster have to be outside?
The roaster always stays outside, under cover, at a safe distance from walls and tents. We can frequently serve indoors if the venue agrees.
Do you leave the area tidy?
We pack everything away after service, and we take our equipment with us.
Can you cater at home?
Wherever the family gathers, if the roaster can cook outside.
Do you need power or water?
No, the roast is cooked on gas. Let us know what’s on site.
Is crockery included?
Plates are included. You can upgrade to china if you prefer.
A hog roast or other catering?
Next to a cold buffet, roast pork on a plate with potatoes is more filling. Published UK guides give a wide range for hog roast catering, from around £10 a head for a basic roll to £20 or more with sides and service. Every event gets its own quote, with everything listed.
Why book with us
- All the equipment comes with us
- Halloumi skewers and a vegan option too
- Carved to order by a chef
- A choice of salads and potatoes
See our prices page and what a hog roast costs.
Prices and what affects them
There is no fixed price list, since every event is different. The main factors are:
- Travel to Downend
- Access to the cooking area
- Time on site
- The number of people
Distance is part of the price: we include travel in the quote. Tell us the exact address for an accurate figure.
Details that help
These are the details we need:
- Your date and serving time
- Which meats and sides you’d like
- Where the roaster could go, ideally with a photo
- Roughly how many people
A quote from us sets out the menu, timings, staffing and what’s included, so it is easy to compare like for like. Fill in our quote form.
Downend: halls, homes and travel
Downend is about 2 miles east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We’re happy to travel to Downend for wakes and the places nearby. Downend is one of 125 places in the Isle of Wight where we cater. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 17 miles away.
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the nearest station is Smallbrook Junction station, about 4.3 miles east. The coast is within about 5 miles of Downend, and coastal halls can be breezy, so we choose a sheltered cooking spot.
Wherever your wake is in PO30, we can bring the roaster to you. Local streets include Briddlesford Road and Long Lane; a wake on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. For wakes just outside Downend, we cover Arreton (1 mile south), Merstone (2 miles south), Blackwater (2 miles south-west), Shide (2 miles west) and Newchurch (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ryde (4 miles north-east), Cowes (5 miles north-west), Sandown (4 miles south-east), Shanklin (5 miles south-east), Ventnor (7 miles south) and East Cowes (5 miles north). If your wake is somewhere remote, tell us early so we can plan the journey.
A little further out are Carisbrooke Castle (3 miles west) and Whitecroft Hospital (2.7 miles south-west). The countryside around Downend includes Brading Down and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
- Local pubs include The White Lion pub (0.8 miles south)
Step by step
People love watching the carving: our chef carves the pork in front of the queue, with crackling for everyone who wants it. In late September, sunset in Downend is about 7:10pm; in December, about 4:00pm, so we plan lighting for later gatherings.
- Tell us the date, venue and rough numbers.
- We confirm availability and send a simple quote.
- The roast cooks while you’re at the service.
- We serve calmly as people arrive.
- We clear away discreetly.
Preparing for the day
- Make sure the cooking area is away from walls, tents and trees
- Confirm numbers ahead of the day
- Gather dietary requirements early
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, along with your serving time. We will confirm availability and send a price. Use our quote form.
Planning help
- Roasted on site for several hours, outdoors under cover
- Carved by our chef into rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside the pork
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards